May 19, 2014
On Sunday evening, May 18th the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 for a two vehicle accident, with injuries, in the area of Muckshaw Road, north of 13th Road. Sergeant Phil Beam and Officer Les McFarland responded to the crash and began to investigate the accident.
The crash occurred when 18 year old Alex D. Harsted of Plymouth was traveling northbound on Muckshaw Road in a gray 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix and 18 year old Grifin P. Masterson also of Plymouth in a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am attempted to pass Mr. Harsted. Both vehicles collided causing both vehicles to go off the roadway. Harsted‘s vehicle went off the west side of the road and broke off a REMC pole while Masterson’s vehicle went off east side of the roadway through a tree line and into a field where the Grand Am rolled over several times.
Both passengers in the vehicles, Katrina M. Collins, age 20 and a 16-year-old juvenile complained of pain and were treated on scene by Plymouth EMS and transported to St. Joseph Regional Hospital where they were released after receiving treatment.
Dave Holmes, Marshall County Prosecutor and Sheriff Tom Chamberlin recently sent Officer Les McFarland to the Northwest University Center for Public Safety for training on accident investigation. Officer McFarland has completed and been certified in CDR Technician Level 1 and Technician Level 2 for crash investigations.
Officer McFarland used new tools and his new training and was able to determine that Alex D. Harsted was traveling 85 mph five seconds prior to the crash and Grifin P. Masterson was traveling 98 mph five seconds prior to the crash. An accident report along with a criminal case report has been completed and forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office for review and possible criminal charges being filed for Reckless Driving, a class B misdemeanor along with Exceeding the posted speed limit.
Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made